Method and device for providing, retrieving and using a data element

Abstract

The invention relates to various aspects of the production and processing of web-based plastic products, in particular spunbond nonwovens, meltblown nonwovens, composite nonwovens, blown films, flat films, plastic sheets, or plastic panels. The core aspect is a method and a device for providing, retrieving, and utilizing a data element in the value chain of a web-based product for the cross-stage exchange of multiple different data elements for producing the final product within the web-based product's value chain. This data makes it possible to optimize the processes within the value chain, improve the design of the machinery and equipment used, and enhance both the plant engineering and process engineering aspects of the web-based product's production.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing, retrieving and using a data element and a device for operating the method.

[0002] In particular, the invention relates to a method for providing, retrieving and using a data element in the value chain of a plastic web material for producing an end product, by means of a communication protocol and a data carrier for the cross-stage exchange of a plurality of different data elements for producing the end product within the value chain, wherein the data element can be retrieved and used by means of the communication protocol and the data carrier for the cross-stage exchange of a plurality of different data elements.

[0003] The value chains of industrial products are subject to ever-increasing complexity. New and further developments in raw materials, materials science, technologies and machinery for raw material processing, technologies and machinery for semi-finished product production, technologies and machinery for further processing of semi-finished products, logistics processes, and, last but not least, value chain management processes are resulting in an ever-deepening network of interdependent information.

[0004] The production and processing of plastic sheet materials has undergone significant changes recently. The possibilities for achieving specific properties desired by the end customer during the production of the sheet materials have increased significantly, resulting in a wider range of possible properties and a greater variety of end products.

[0005] However, this technological progress also requires an increasing degree of coordination within the value chain of plastic web products.

[0006] To ensure robust implementation of new product properties, machines for the production of web materials increasingly require adaptation to the properties of the raw materials used. However, the machines for further processing of web materials must also be increasingly adapted to the properties of the web materials.

[0007] The coordination processes specifically require an exchange of data, which must be increasingly adapted to the individual goods due to the increasing number of properties.

[0008] Further optimization within the value chain requires optimization of individual processes, which requires a higher degree of interaction between the actors in the value chain. Due to the ever-increasing and accelerating level of detail, this level of interaction can only be met in the future with information technology processes and devices.

[0009] It is therefore desirable for all actors within the plastic sheet value chain to have access to the relevant data from the other links in the value chain, ideally both from the data earlier in the value chain and from the data later in the value chain—in simple terms, data from both suppliers and customers. To achieve this, the use of uniform data communication standards is desirable.

[0010] WO 2017 / 174232 A1 discloses a method for evaluating a process for producing a film web, wherein a correlation is established between the production process data and the further processing process data during film production.

[0011] WO 2017 / 174223 A1 discloses a device and a method for an industrial automated process, wherein a process data value is passed on to an individual machine upstream or downstream in the process via an interface.

[0012] DE 10 2016 014 690 A1 discloses a method in which a large amount of information about the processes taking place on the extrusion system is displayed to the system operators, wherein at least some information regarding the extrusion results achieved by a first system operator is displayed to at least one further system operator in such a way that the extrusion system operated by the at least one further system operator is operated in dependence on this information in order to thereby increase the effectiveness of the extrusion process.

[0013] PCT / DE2017 / 000350 (post-published, by the same applicant) discloses numerous inventive aspects.

[0014] The article by Stieler Sylvia: "Digitalization in the Plastics Industry," a special edition for IG BCE, May 2015, pages 1-37, discloses a method for providing, retrieving, and using a data element in a value chain for a plastic web. Using an RFID chip, data is recorded, evaluated, and further processed along the value chain.

[0015] US 2003 / 102 367 A1 discloses a method for exchanging and providing data in a value chain. For this purpose, data carriers are attached to the object (intermediate product), which store identification, material, and production data for the next stages. The invention is based on the object of providing an improvement or alternative to the prior art or of concretizing PCT / DE2017 / 000350.

[0016] According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method according to claim 1.

[0017] Optional embodiments can be found in the dependent claims. The following terminology is explained in this regard: A "data element" refers in particular to the singular form of "data." A "data element" is understood to be a statement, a numerical value, or, in general, information obtained through measurement or observation. In particular, electronically available information is referred to as "data." A "data element" in this sense is electronic information. A "data element" is not limited to the type of information. In particular, it can be a number, a date, a name, a term, or any other type of electronically available information. A data element is limited to a single piece of information.

[0018] A data element can also contain a plurality of pieces of information depending on the context.

[0019] A "data element" can be accessed using an identifier.

[0020] In particular, a data element can be loaded from the memory, in particular a location-independent data storage (database query) or stored in a data storage.

[0021] In particular, it is conceivable that a data element can be passed on or exchanged on a mobile data carrier.

[0022] “Information” is a subset of knowledge.

[0023] A "disk" is a physical or virtual device for storing data.

[0024] A data storage device can be a "location-independent storage device" or, in the broadest sense, a "data cloud," which is also referred to as the "cloud" in science and colloquially. One function of a data storage device is to store large amounts of data efficiently, consistently, and permanently, and to provide required subsets of the stored data in different, needs-based presentation formats for users and application programs. In a specific embodiment, the data storage device can enable data transmission but not storage. This is the case, for example, with computer networks, whether wireless or wired.

[0025] "Site-independent storage" is data storage that is not dependent on or tied to a location in any way. Rather, site-independent storage is storage that is not tied to a specific location, in particular, it is not tied to a machine, a facility, a manufacturing process, a production hall, a company, a national territory, or a value chain.

[0026] "Providing" a data element means storing information on the data carrier so that it can be retrieved later. "Writing" a data element also means "providing" a data element.

[0027] "Retrieving" a data element means reading information from the data carrier so that it is "usable" within networked systems.

[0028] "Using" a data element means implementing the information contained in the data element. For example, the information can be used, particularly within networked systems, to control and / or optimize production processes, to control and / or optimize logistics processes, or to control and / or optimize management processes.

[0029] A "value chain" represents the "stages" of production as an ordered sequence of activities. These activities create value, consume resources, and are interconnected in processes. "Cross-stage" means that multiple stages are involved in the activity, especially when exchanging data elements.

[0030] "Web material" refers to a category of products, particularly semi-finished plastic products produced in webs. Examples of web materials include single-layer film webs, tubular film webs (the tube can be split or left tubular), folded film tubes, and sheet-like structures produced in webs from fibers of finite or continuous length. Film webs can be single-layer or multi-layer. Examples of web products include confectionery packaging, diapers, agricultural films, and carrier bags.

[0031] In general, the term “plastic” refers in particular to thermoplastic and / or thermosetting plastic.

[0032] A "product" refers to a product manufactured by a technical process. A "final product" is a finished product and a subset of the product used by the end customer. The word "product" is also used for all preliminary stages of the final product, in particular plastic granules, webs, rolls, and / or other semi-finished products.

[0033] The "production" of a "product" or "production" is understood to mean a transformation process brought about by work, which produces a "product" from natural or already processed raw materials using labor resources and / or energy.

[0034] A "communication protocol" is an agreement according to which data is exchanged between two parties and / or devices. A communication protocol can be defined as a set of rules that determine the syntax, semantics, and synchronization of communication. Communication protocols can be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination of both. At the lowest level, a protocol defines the behavior of interconnected hardware. In particular, an industrial communication protocol can be used for the automated exchange of information, for example, between end devices such as machines, automatons, vehicles, or containers, or with a central control center, using the internet with various access networks, such as the mobile network.A communication protocol is required, among other things, for the data exchange necessary within a system integration so that individual, possibly autonomous, systems are able to exchange information using electronic data.

[0035] Specifically, a "communication protocol" includes OPC-UA, in particular according to IEC 62541 and / or DIN EN 62541 Part 8, MQTT, in particular according to ISO / IEC 20922, and / or AMQP, in particular according to ISO / IEC 19464.

[0036] A "machine" is a technical structure with moving parts.

[0037] "Cloud computing" refers to the provision of IT infrastructure such as storage space, computing power, or application software as a service over the internet. A "cloud" is therefore a storage space with the special IT infrastructure available over a computer network without having to be installed on a local computer. A cloud is used through technical interfaces and protocols. An IoT (Internet of Things) cloud is a platform designed to store and process Internet of Things (aka Industry 4.0) data. These are usually real-time, scalable processing units with above-average storage volumes.

[0038] A "message broker" describes a software unit that distributes messages within the IoT cloud. For example, the message broker can use the MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport) messaging protocol for M2M communications. This enables the transmission of telemetry data in the form of messages between devices despite high latency or limited network access. Interestingly, an MQTT server ("broker") maintains the entire data set of its communication partners and can thus be used as a state database. This makes it possible to connect small, low-performance MQTT devices to an MQTT broker, with the devices collecting data and / or receiving commands, while a complex situation report is created solely on the MQTT broker and can be evaluated there or by a high-performance communication partner.Control interventions can thus be transmitted from one or more powerful instances to the MQTT broker and distributed to the individual devices. This feature makes MQTT ideal for automation solutions and is widely used in the IoT sector.

[0039] Database management systems (DBMS) are software systems responsible for managing (storing, querying) logically related data. This includes, for example, the "time series" DBMS, which is optimized for managing time series. A time series is characterized by the fact that each entry has an associated timestamp. Time series DBMSs enable the efficient storage and querying of any time series and have the advantage of being manageable with other DBMS types (from key-value stores to relational systems). SQL can be used as a programming language to access the DBMS and the databases.

[0040] "Big Data" refers to data sets that are, for example, too large, too complex, too fast-moving, or too weakly structured to be analyzed using manual and conventional data processing methods. Big Data anonymization techniques can also be applied.

[0041] Big data can be stored in various "big data databases," regardless of the size, format, and speed of the data. Furthermore, the data can be processed and analyzed in various ways, on various platforms, and using various languages. Data analyses can be performed using batch, streaming, and interactive analytics, for example.

[0042] Big data databases include, for example, BLOB storage ("binary large object storage"), also referred to as "blob storage." Blob storage can store large amounts of unstructured object data, such as text and binary data.

[0043] Data in blob storage can be accessed from anywhere in the world via HTTP or HTTPS. Blob storage can be implemented as a cloud storage system and can therefore be used to make data publicly available worldwide or to store application data privately.

[0044] Data lakes are also considered big data databases. A data lake is a type of data storage repository. It stores structured and unstructured raw data in the form provided by the data source. Data lakes have the advantage that it is not necessary to know in advance which analyses are likely to be performed. A data lake can therefore store vast amounts of raw data in its original format in a flat architecture and keep it available until needed.

[0045] Machine learning is the processing of large amounts of data (big data) with variable parameters that are constantly adjusted using training data in order to draw conclusions from these large amounts of data that are superior to the results of a classic analysis.

[0046] This is done on the basis of simulations of artificial, neural processes that can independently recognize recurring patterns and objects based on operational data.

[0047] It has been shown that the information density of modern value chains in the plastics processing industry is constantly increasing, particularly in the area of ​​web materials. Starting materials, semi-finished products, finished products, and end products exhibit an ever-increasing number of evaluated properties, with growing requirements for the desired specifications. Production machines, finishing machines, and the associated production and finishing processes are becoming increasingly complex, enabling an ever-increasing product diversity. Likewise, the complexity of logistics and the associated processes, as well as that of management tasks, has also steadily increased, resulting in an increasingly densely interwoven and interlocking network of interdependent information.

[0048] Since the possibilities for achieving specific properties desirable for the end customer in the production of sheet materials have increased significantly in recent times, the possible properties of the end products have also become more extensive and the end products themselves more varied. Along with this, the diversity of information to be processed in the value chain of the plastics processing industry, especially in the area of ​​sheet materials, has also steadily grown.

[0049] The state of the art has so far dictated that the coordination of production, product properties, logistics, and management within the value chain of the plastics processing industry, particularly in the area of ​​web materials, is predominantly carried out manually. The processing of the relevant information and the decisions to be made within the process chain for manufacturing a semi-finished or finished product consisting predominantly of plastic are carried out by humans who exchange and pass on the relevant information among themselves.

[0050] In contrast, a synchronization of the flow of goods and information is proposed here.

[0051] It is proposed to link the value chain of plastic-based web materials with information and communication technology, particularly in the areas of research and development, raw materials, production of web materials, further processing of web materials, production of end products, market developments, logistics and management.

[0052] Specifically, among other things, an intelligent networking of information is proposed, also with the help of a uniform communication protocol in the value chain of plastic-based web goods, which advantageously allows for the automation of processes, in particular the automation of production processes, logistics processes and management processes.

[0053] The proposed data and information management approach using a standardized data element significantly simplifies the representation, execution, and automation of processes. Furthermore, this approach can significantly simplify the generation of additional, integrated, evaluated information. For example, the energy consumption per product or the amount of CO2 released can be determined based on the information collected and exchanged across the value chain.

[0054] This can, among other things, advantageously achieve rapid adaptability of production facilities, which can economically advance the individualization of products and, in particular, enable small series of products tailored to individual customer requirements to be produced at attractive costs.

[0055] Along with the exchange of information across the value chain using a uniform communication protocol, the proposed procedure also aims to determine data rights, ensuring that only authorized parties can read, write, or delete information. Specifically, it is proposed that the party in the value chain who provides information also be able to decide who should have access to that information.

[0056] In particular, it is proposed that both persons and data processing systems, for example those of a production plant, should be able to access the information so that data can be written, read and deleted by both persons and data processing systems.

[0057] Among other things, it is proposed to synchronise the flow of goods and information in the value chain of plastic-based web goods across all stages with the help of a data element, whereby information can be made available to the data element at one stage of the value chain and this information can also be retrieved and used at a second stage of the value chain.

[0058] It is conceivable that information from a data element can be retrieved and used at any stage of the value chain, provided that there is appropriate authorization to retrieve and use the information.

[0059] Specifically, it is proposed that access to information in a data element for statistical analysis can also be anonymized, provided that appropriate authorization is available. This makes it possible to statistically evaluate multiple pieces of information without being able to assign individual pieces of information to a specific flow of goods.

[0060] Furthermore, a digital roll protocol is according to the invention, which has one or more data elements and is uniquely linked to a roll that is set up for the transport of web material as well as the winding and unwinding of web material.

[0061] The digital roll protocol represents a kind of digital package insert, which contains all relevant and / or interesting information linked to the web material belonging to the roll.

[0062] In particular, the digital roll protocol is clearly linked to the roll's identification. Specifically, it is proposed, among other things, that the roll has an identification code, in particular a barcode, a QR code, or a matrix code, or that the roll be equipped with an RFID chip.

[0063] Among other things, it is proposed that the identification code or RFID chip be readable with a suitable electronic data capture device, which, for example, allows the link between the role and the digital role log to be clearly established, so that, if the electronic data capture device is authorized, a data element can be provided, retrieved, or used. According to the proposal made here, a data element associated with the digital role log is stored on a location-independent storage device.

[0064] Specifically, it is also conceivable that the data element belonging to the digital roll protocol is present on a data storage device that is inserted into the electronic data capture device or with which the electronic data capture device is networked for data exchange.

[0065] In particular, it is claimed that the digital roll log contains information from the web material's value chain related to the web material on the roll. In particular, it is proposed that the information relate to the period between roll change and roll change, i.e., the period from the time the roll was wound with the web material to the time the roll was wound with the web material.

[0066] It is also proposed to provide the corresponding times in a data element of the digital role log.

[0067] It is further proposed that the information on the digital roll log be condensed as needed. For example, if a process property that should be recorded on the digital roll log does not change, it is sufficient to record this constant value only once on the digital roll log. However, if a variable changes over time, it is proposed that the information be provided in the digital roll log at a constant time interval, whereby the time interval can be different for different variables.

[0068] It is also proposed that several roles can be assigned to an order via their identification of the role via a data element, which can advantageously simplify the logistics within the framework of a specific customer order.

[0069] This advantageously allows for the overall synchronization of goods and digital information flow. This allows for a clear assignment of the recorded information via the roll identification to the web material on the roll. This information can be stored in, for example, SQL databases as a result of the method according to the invention.

[0070] Achievable advantages of the present invention include an increased level of information exchange, which enables process optimization of the value chain for plastic web goods in the areas of raw materials, semi-finished product production, further processing of the semi-finished products, logistics, and value chain management. For example, serially processed machines can be advantageously tailored to the individual product properties. In particular, variations in the process parameters at one stage of the value chain can be advantageously taken into account in subsequent stages. In other words, the data element on the digital roll protocol provides relevant information for further use, so that, for example, the processing machine can already be automatically adjusted to the required parameters for the next processing steps.In addition, optimized production planning and control by all actors can lead to further processing of B-goods into another, less sophisticated end product, which can advantageously reduce the waste of goods.

[0071] Process optimization across a single link in the value chain also advantageously allows energy consumption to be reduced up to the final product.

[0072] Overall, the invention can make a significant and advantageous contribution to significantly improving the efficiency within the value chain for semi-finished web goods.

[0073] Preferably, the data element has a material property, in particular a material property of a product, in particular of a starting material and / or a semi-finished product and / or a final product.

[0074] The following terminology should be explained: A "material property" is a substance-specific, characteristic quantity that characterizes a substance. Each substance is characterized by a unique combination of material properties by which it can be identified. Examples of materials used include plastic granules, as well as auxiliary materials and additives.

[0075] A "feedstock" is used as a raw material for further processing steps in production. An example of a feedstock for the production of sheet material is granulated plastic as well as an auxiliary material and / or an additive.

[0076] In particular, a starting material is a polymeric raw material (polyolefins, polycondensates, PP, PE, PA, PET, PBT, PLA). A starting material can be defined in particular by MFI (melt flow index), intrinsic viscosity, and / or a melting temperature.

[0077] A starting material may comprise an additive, in particular a color, an antiblock, an antifog, a slip additive, a filler (for example CaCo3) and / or an adhesion promoter.

[0078] A "semi-finished product" is a product in the production process and also a product that can be referred to as a semi-finished product until the final product is completed or until it has been further processed into a final product.

[0079] Semi-finished products include, in particular, blown films, flat films, plastic sheets, plastic panels, and nonwovens made of plastic fibers, in particular spunbond nonwovens, meltblown nonwovens, or composite nonwovens. All semi-finished products mentioned here are web products or are made from them, so all semi-finished products referred to here are to be understood as web products in the context of this application, and the term "web product" is used separately for each of the semi-finished products mentioned.

[0080] According to the definition, a semi-finished product remains a semi-finished product until it is a finished product that is packaged and sent to the end customer (consumer). In particular, semi-finished products are: Nonwovens, in particular nonwovens that are still being processed into a diaper, films, in particular films that are still being printed, printed films, in particular printed films that are still being converted into a packaging product.

[0081] Among other things, it is proposed here that a material property is provided in a data element, whereby a material property, in particular a material property of a product, in particular of a starting material and / or a semi-finished product and / or a final product, can be included in the synchronization of the flow of goods and information in the value chain for web goods.

[0082] This makes it possible to include properties of substances that were determined, for example, inline in a production device or offline in a laboratory in the digital roll protocol or to make them generally available with a data element.

[0083] This can advantageously be achieved by synchronizing material properties, in particular material properties determined in a laboratory, with the web material and making these available for optimization in the value chain of the web material.

[0084] In particular, a material property can be linked to an identification of a role.

[0085] Optionally, the data element has a product property, in particular a product property of a starting material and / or a semi-finished product and / or a final product.

[0086] The following terminology should be explained: A "product property" is a physical or chemical property of a product, especially a semi-finished product or a finished product. Examples of product properties of web materials include density, geometry, transparency, and much more. The sum of several product properties can also be referred to as the "quality" of a product.

[0087] A "product property" of a web product, in particular a film or nonwoven, is understood to include, for example, strength, elongation, basis weight, air permeability, barrier properties, an optical property of a film, surface energy, or stickiness. Furthermore, a product property can also include inspection data that provide information about whether a web product is defect-free or whether a particularly defined area is not defect-free.

[0088] A product property behaves similarly, where a semi-finished product is converted into a final product in one of the final process steps. Here, too, it is possible that the descriptive properties of the semi-finished product are not directly visible properties, but are described in a further processing machine, in particular a so-called running behavior. Running behavior refers to how a roll can be unwound and how straight it runs through the further processing machine, without folds or creases. Feedback on this running behavior and analysis of a data element can identify setting values ​​for process parameters that optimize running behavior.

[0089] It is optionally conceivable to include a product property, in particular a product property of a starting material and / or a semi-finished product and / or a final product, in a data element, so that it can advantageously be achieved that a product property can be synchronized with the web material and can be used for process optimizations in the value chain.

[0090] It is further proposed that the product property be determined either inline with a suitable sensor or offline in a laboratory using a material sample.

[0091] In particular, this can advantageously be achieved by including a product property in the digital roll protocol of the web material.

[0092] Preferably, the data element has a process property, in particular a production process property and / or a logistics process property and / or a management process property.

[0093] The following terminology should be explained: A "process property" is a property of a process, in particular a production process, a logistics process or a management process.

[0094] A process property is, for example, a temperature, a pressure, a rotational speed, a velocity or their respective deviation over time or other process parameters calculated from them.

[0095] The properties of a machine used in the "production process" are "production process properties." Examples of production processes are production and product processing.

[0096] Properties of a "logistics process" also fall into the category of process properties, are referred to as "logistics process properties" and include, for example, distribution channels, storage locations, warehousing and transport types.

[0097] A "logistics process property" is in particular also information about a storage condition, in particular a storage time, a storage temperature and / or a humidity, a transport condition, in particular a temperature and / or a relative humidity, packaging information, in particular information about how many rolls are on the pallet and / or how a product or a semi-finished product is labelled.

[0098] Furthermore, the characteristics of a "management process" fall under the process characteristics and are referred to as "management process characteristics." Examples of a management process include conducting data analysis, generating expert knowledge, production planning, production control, and controlling research and development activities.

[0099] Data analysis within a management process can pursue various aspects: Securing a desired process property (target / actual comparison), statistical process control, returning a data element to the production plant, which is used there in particular to optimize the process settings using machine learning, generating expert knowledge through big data analysis and deriving correlations across process chains and / or value creation stages.

[0100] These results are used to initiate and / or support research and development processes.

[0101] In particular, it is conceivable that a management process includes production planning, whereby the actual data of at least one process can be used for this purpose, so that production planning based on the actual conditions in the process chain is possible at any time. The goal of production planning is to optimize production processes.

[0102] This is particularly important when dynamic changes occur, for example with regard to supply bottlenecks in raw materials or similarly important in connection with call-off orders or just-in-time deliveries.

[0103] It is specifically suggested here that a process property, in particular a production process property and / or a logistics process property and / or a management process property, be included with a data element in the synchronization of goods and information flow, for example by means of the digital roll protocol of the web goods.

[0104] With the inclusion of a logistics process property in the cross-value chain data exchange, as proposed here, it can be advantageously achieved that a starting material, a semi-finished product, a product or a final product can be tracked on its way through the value chain, which also makes it easier to find.

[0105] By providing a production process property, it is conceivable, among other things, that the maintenance of a production machine or a further processing machine can be automated and planned accordingly at an early stage, which can also advantageously optimize the process chain within the value chain.

[0106] It is also conceivable that a roll of web material is cut into pieces in a further processing process and that this cut into pieces is provided in a production process property.

[0107] In the case of a roll of web material being divided into sections, it is specifically proposed, among other things, to provide each piece with a separate, different identification.

[0108] Furthermore, for this specific case, it is proposed, among other things, to introduce an inheritance process for data elements so that a data element can be automatically transferred from a parent role to a fragmented child role. It is also proposed to provide a parent-child relationship in a process property for both the digital role protocol of the parent role and the digital role protocols of the child roles.

[0109] Furthermore, it is proposed to provide information in a logistics process property about which finishing machine the web material should be further processed on according to the production process planning. This advantageously simplifies the allocation of a web material within the logistics process.

[0110] In this way, it can be advantageously achieved that a process property can be used in a different stage of the value chain, particularly for process optimization.

[0111] Within the logistics associated with the production of a final product, information about the location of a semi-finished product and / or a quantity of a finished product and / or a required raw material or semi-finished product must be provided repeatedly in the process chain.

[0112] The constraints on such a production planning process, in which logistics processes are integrated into the planning, are undoubtedly extensive and steadily increasing with the increasing number of further processing steps. One concrete proposal here is that the constraints of the goods flows be integrated into production planning. This is advantageously made possible by the fact that the synchronization of goods and service flows can provide and / or store the information required for such cross-logistics planning in corresponding data elements.

[0113] Specifically, it is proposed that the constraints necessary for planning and those resulting from the coordination of the logistics process be entered into the relevant data elements during production planning, and that these constraints be used to optimize planning. In particular, it is conceivable that the planning process begins with the desired completion date of the end product and optimizes production planning based on this, taking into account the respective availability of transport capacity, storage capacity, processing machines, production machines, raw materials, and the respective variable costs.

[0114] In particular, this concerns, for example, the quantity of raw materials available in stock and the corresponding requirements, in particular specified by quantity and time frame, for the planned production and, if necessary, a preferentially adjusted production depending on availability.

[0115] Typically, the manufactured semi-finished product is temporarily stored before further processing. This requires transport from a production machine to a warehouse.

[0116] Transport can be carried out as a single roll or as a bundle of rolls on a pallet. In either case, information is required for the transport from the machine to the carrier. Information is also required for transport from the machine to a warehouse and / or from a warehouse to a carrier.

[0117] This chain of thought can also be applied to other logistics processes, which can also be advantageously optimized with knowledge of the relevant information about the production process.

[0118] Another example relates to the further processing of semi-finished products, where information regarding retrieval from the warehouse and the availability of the finishing machine is again required in the process chain. It may also be necessary to consider information from multiple types of semi-finished products. For example, if two rolls of different semi-finished products are laminated into one web in one further processing step.

[0119] Furthermore, it is common practice that so-called blank cuts are often made during the production of rolls, so that instead of producing a large master roll which is later fed into further processing, rolls are produced which have smaller lying widths than the extruded width.

[0120] The synchronization of goods and information flows proposed here, among other things, advantageously enables cross-logistics production planning to be carried out, which on the one hand increases planning reliability and on the other hand reduces process costs by using synergistic effects and cost models, among other things.

[0121] Preferably, the data element has a market characteristic.

[0122] The following terminology should be explained: A "market characteristic" is a property of the market. A "market" refers to the place where supply and demand for a product meet. In the value chain of roll goods, there are numerous different markets for the various products; in particular, this market is global. Examples of market characteristics include demand, supply, and price.

[0123] A "market model" is particularly intended to be a model of consumer behavior.

[0124] In particular, it can be described when what is bought by whom and / or which consumer determines the product selection and / or how marketing and advertising influence the consumer's purchase decision.

[0125] A "market characteristic" of a product is understood to be a characteristic which, in the narrower sense, is evident, tangible, perceptible and visible from the consumer's point of view.

[0126] What is specifically proposed here is, among other things, that a market characteristic flows directly back to the end product manufacturer, even if only as a result of consumer behavior.

[0127] It is also conceivable, among other things, that market characteristics can be transformed into data through customer surveys, so that these tangible, perceptible product characteristics are available as data and can be evaluated.

[0128] This advantageously allows market characteristics to be incorporated into cross-value chain data analysis and modeling, allowing, for example, market requirements or consumer or buyer behavior to be analyzed. Market characteristics can also be advantageously evaluated statistically.

[0129] Optionally, the exchange of a data element takes place across locations; in particular, the exchange of a data element is possible worldwide.

[0130] The following terminology should be explained: "Cross-location" means that the exchange of a data element is not tied to a location, but is possible beyond the boundaries of a single location.

[0131] It is proposed that the data element be stored on a location-independent data storage device that is networked in such a way that it can be accessed across locations, particularly preferably worldwide.

[0132] This advantageously ensures the synchronization of goods and information flows across locations, especially worldwide, without the need to transport a data storage device along with the goods or the flow of goods in general. This also advantageously simplifies the logistics of the flow of goods and information.

[0133] Preferably, the exchange of a data element takes place across parties, in particular the exchange of a data element takes place across companies.

[0134] The following terminology should be explained: "Cross-party" means that the exchange of a data element is not tied to one party, but is possible beyond the boundaries of a single party. A "party" is a group of like-minded individuals. Likewise, a production unit and / or an economic unit and / or a property of a company and / or a company are considered a party.

[0135] "Cross-company" means that the exchange of a data element is not tied to a single company, but is possible beyond the boundaries of a single company. A "company" is an economically independent organizational unit.

[0136] Among other things, it is specifically proposed that the synchronization of the flow of goods and information also takes place beyond company boundaries.

[0137] This can advantageously ensure that information from a complete value chain can be used even if more than one company is involved in the value chain of a product.

[0138] Preferably, the exchange of a data element takes place using a standardized software interface.

[0139] The following terminology is used to explain this: A "software interface" is the part of an electronic system that serves to communicate between different units.

[0140] A data element to be exchanged is transferred via a software interface and a resulting communication protocol.

[0141] For example, a data element is transferred from a production machine to a location-independent data storage device using a communication protocol. Specifically, a communication protocol is OPC UA, particularly according to IEC 62541 and / or DIN EN 62541 Part 8, MQTT, particularly according to ISO / IEC 20922, and / or AMQP, particularly according to ISO / IEC 19464. In this case, the sender and receiver are on the same network, and authentication is systematically provided.

[0142] In all other cases, a data element is provided with an identifier and transferred via a software interface and an associated communication protocol. A software interface basically consists of a suitable input and / or output device, in particular an electronic data capture device, an authentication necessary for forwarding the data or for querying the data, if necessary a possibility to encrypt the data and a communication protocol which enables the secure transmission of data and provides feedback on the transmission quality.

[0143] The advantage of this is that the provision, retrieval and use of information from one or more data elements can be simplified and made cheaper by means of a uniform, standardised software interface to the information.

[0144] Optionally, both the first and second levels can read and / or write the data element.

[0145] Specifically, with appropriate authorization from the parties involved, it is conceivable that information from a data element can be provided, accessed and used across all stages of the value chain for web goods.

[0146] The advantage of this is that the synchronization of the exchange of goods and information can also be carried out and used across all stages of a value chain.

[0147] Preferably, the data element is used by the second stage to further process the product on the basis of whose production the data element was generated at the first stage and made available in the data store, the second stage being chronologically located after the first stage.

[0148] This can advantageously be achieved by ensuring that a data element provided during the production of a semi-finished product or a product can also be used for process optimization of further processing.

[0149] Preferably, the order of the stages is not chronological, whereby the first stage as well as the second stage can each be a different, arbitrary and not necessarily adjacent stage in the value chain.

[0150] The proposal here is that a data element can be used across the value chain if authorized by a user or data processing facility. For example, it is also possible for the supplier of a raw material to access a market property that, in a chronological perspective, can only be made available long after the raw material has been delivered. In particular, it is also conceivable that a supplier of a raw material or another participant in the value chain can connect to a digital role log via suitable access and view, read, and use the information stored there at any time.

[0151] The advantage of this is that the integration of information use across the value chain can be improved.

[0152] Optionally, the product, in particular the end product, is provided with an individual product identifier and displays this identifier below.

[0153] The following terminology should be explained: An "identifier" is a characteristic linked to a specific identity for the unique identification of the object bearing the identifier. A "product identifier" is the identifier of a product. A "machine identifier" is the identifier of a machine. A "logistics identifier" is the identifier of a logistics service provider, a warehouse, a transport vehicle, or something similar. A "management identifier" is the identifier of a management employee, a management department, an automated data evaluation routine, or something similar.

[0154] An identifier, also referred to as an "identifier" (ID), can contain individual characteristics. For example, an identifier can contain chronological data, the manufacturer's / producer's individual ID, a piece ID, and the end user's individual order ID. This information is both optically and machine-readable according to the state of the art. Additional information can be added to an identifier to be individually adapted to the end user. Additional characteristics not directly contained in an identifier can be individually retrieved locally or globally via the data storage and / or the value-added management system by enabling retrieval using a manufacturer-specific procedure, particularly a proprietary procedure. The identifier then points to a data record in the memory, similar to a programming pointer.

[0155] Specifically, it is proposed to fill a data element with the specific identifier of the production machine, logistics provider, or similar, in addition to the information, especially in addition to a property, so that a mapping between information and identifier exists within a data element. This can then be used for subsequent process steps to reliably identify the origin of the information.

[0156] Specifically, it is proposed that an end product be provided with an individual product identifier, which can be used in a similar way to the identification of a roll of web material. For example, it is conceivable that information in a data element is linked to an identifier of the end product and can be provided, read, or used via this link.

[0157] The advantage of this is that it can enable synchronization of the flow of goods and information right up to the final product.

[0158] It is also advantageous to ensure that information from a data element can be provided, read out and used via the link to an end product identifier if authorization is present.

[0159] Preferably, a production machine for plastic web goods is provided with an individual production machine identification and subsequently displays this.

[0160] The following terminology should be explained: A "production machine" is a machine for producing a web product made of plastic. The starting material of the production machine is a granulated plastic, possibly an auxiliary material and possibly an additive.

[0161] A "production machine identifier" is the identifier of a production machine.

[0162] It is proposed here that a production machine be provided with a production machine identifier.

[0163] This can advantageously be achieved by linking all data elements of all semi-finished products, products or end products that have the production machine identification in a data element via the production machine identification.

[0164] It can also be achieved in this way that the production machine for a semi-finished product, a product or a final product that was involved in the production process can be identified, provided that a corresponding data element of the semi-finished product, the product or the final product has a production machine identifier.

[0165] Preferably, a processing machine for plastic web material is provided with an individual processing machine identification and subsequently displays this on

[0166] The following terminology should be explained: A "finishing machine" is a machine for the further processing of web material that contains plastic or consists predominantly of plastic.

[0167] A "finishing machine identifier" is the identifier of a finishing machine.

[0168] It is understood that the advantages described above for the production machine identification of the production machine also extend to a finishing machine with a finishing machine identification.

[0169] This also creates a direct link between the respective plant component and the information sources. For example, it is possible to display the following information on-site (e.g., directly in front of the plant component itself), for example, on a screen with a user interface: current process parameters and / or process parameter trends and / or control settings and / or suitable spare parts for the production machine or further processing machine and / or a communication option for the provider and / or a raw material supplier (telephone number, automatically generated email for orders, or the like) and / or commercial data (amount of raw materials still in stock, repeat orders already placed, and the like) and / or a customer communication option.

[0170] Optionally, a transport vehicle for transporting the product is provided with an individual transport vehicle identification and subsequently displays this.

[0171] The following terminology should be explained: A "transport vehicle" is a vehicle that is suitable for transporting the product.

[0172] A "transport vehicle identifier" is the identifier of a transport vehicle.

[0173] It is therefore suggested that a transport vehicle be provided with an individual transport vehicle identifier. In concrete terms, it is conceivable, among other things, that information in a data element is linked to an identifier of the transport vehicle and can be provided, read, or used via this link.

[0174] The advantage of this is that it can also enable synchronization of the flow of goods and information within the logistics processes.

[0175] It is also advantageous that information from a data element can be provided, read out and used via the link to a transport vehicle if authorization is present.

[0176] According to the invention, the data element is linked and provided and / or used via the data acquisition device with the product and a production machine and / or the further processing machine and / or transport vehicle as at least a second stage.

[0177] The following terminology is used to explain this: A data element is displayed, captured, and linked using mobile devices. Displaying data is also understood as reading data. Such a mobile device is referred to as a "data capture device."

[0178] A "data acquisition device" can be a mobile data acquisition device or a stationary device connected to a machine. It is an electronic unit that handles a data element and / or a plurality of data elements (a data set) in an organized manner, with the goal of obtaining information about this data set or modifying this data set. The data is captured in data sets, processed by humans or machines according to a predefined procedure, and output as a result.

[0179] This can advantageously be achieved by making it easy to provide, read or use a data element with a mobile or stationary electronic data capture device.

[0180] Preferably, the product identifier and / or the production machine identifier and / or the further processing machine identifier and / or the transport vehicle identifier is read optoelectronically and / or electromagnetically.

[0181] The following terminology should be explained: "Optoelectronic" refers to all processes that enable the conversion of electronically generated data and energy into light emissions and vice versa.

[0182] This can advantageously be achieved by means of an identification of a roll or an identifier, in particular a barcode, a QR code or a matrix code, and can be read optoelectronically in a simple manner, for example with a mobile electronic data capture device, whereby a link to the data element is established when the code is read, provided that there is a corresponding authorization to use.

[0183] It can also be advantageously achieved that a data acquisition device can electromagnetically read the RFID chip that is used to identify a product, a production machine, a processing machine or a transport vehicle.

[0184] Optionally, the data storage device is a location-independent data storage device that is available across locations and / or parties.

[0185] This can advantageously ensure that information from a data element can be provided, read out or used regardless of location.

[0186] According to the invention, the plastic web material is a spunbond nonwoven or a meltblown nonwoven or a composite nonwoven or a blown film or a flat film or a plastic sheet or a plastic panel.

[0187] The following terminology should be explained in this regard: A "nonwoven" is in particular a structure made of fibers of limited length, continuous fibers or cut yarns of any type and of any origin, which have been assembled in any way to form a fiber layer or fiber web and bonded to one another in any way, in particular a spunbond nonwoven or a meltblown nonwoven or a composite nonwoven.

[0188] In spunbond nonwovens, the filaments or fibers are spun from a melt or solution, as in conventional spinning processes. Polymer granules are melted and fed into a spinneret. The emerging threads (filaments) are immediately drawn off aerodynamically or mechanically and stretched. The filaments are laid down in circular sheets.

[0189] It is understood that the advantages of the first aspect of the invention, as described above, extend from a web material to spunbond nonwoven.

[0190] In meltblown nonwovens, the filaments or fibers are spun from a melt or solution, just like in conventional spinning. Polymer granules are melted and fed into a spinneret. The emerging filaments are torn apart while still liquid by a hot air stream. This creates fine individual fibers.

[0191] It is understood that the advantages of the first aspect of the invention, as described above, extend from a web material to meltblown nonwoven.

[0192] The "composite nonwoven" is a nonwoven that consists of a spunbond nonwoven component and a meltblown nonwoven component.

[0193] It is understood that the advantages of the first aspect of the invention, as described above, extend from a web material to composite nonwovens.

[0194] A "blown film" is a plastic film web that has been produced using the blown film process.

[0195] It is understood that the advantages of the first aspect of the invention, as described above, extend from a web product to blown film.

[0196] A "flat film" is a plastic film web that has been produced using the cast film process.

[0197] It is understood that the advantages of the first aspect of the invention, as described above, extend from a web product to flat film.

[0198] A "plastic sheet" is a plastic sheet that has been manufactured using a plastic molding process.

[0199] It is understood that the advantages of the first aspect of the invention, as described above, extend from a web product to a plastic sheet.

[0200] A "plastic sheet" is a sheet made of plastic that has been manufactured using a plastic molding process. Plastic sheets can be manufactured from sheet material and are also referred to here as sheet material.

[0201] It will be appreciated that the advantages of the first aspect of the invention, as described above, extend from a web product to a plastic sheet.

[0202] The cross-value chain synchronization of goods and information flows comprises one or more central and / or decentralized data storage devices. The input and output of the information flows is carried out via a data acquisition device. The data acquisition device can be a mobile, portable or a permanently installed device that can read and / or generate an identifier, in particular by means of an RFID chip, a QR code, a bar code, a bar code, and the like. The device can perform authentication and thus allow individual, context-sensitive read and / or write rights. Participants in the value chain are either acting persons and / or machines and / or facilities such as, for example,Raw material and raw material manufacturers, reactors for the production of extrusion starting products, plastics processing plants, operators of plastics processing plants, semi-finished products, more precisely rolls of web material, further processing machines (shrink packaging plant, testing device, shrink tunnel, shrink hood plant, coating plant, laminating plant, laminator, film plant, rewinding machine consisting of e.g. unwinder and / or rewinder, metallizer, printing machine, thermoforming plant, bagging plant, hood stretcher, wrap stretch automatic machine, diaper machine, etc.), operators of further processing machines, laboratory for the determination of offline key figures, laboratory employees for the determination of offline key figures and / or properties, inspection systems for the determination of inline and / or offline key figures and / or properties, warehouse, warehouse employees, transport, transport employees within a company or between different locations of the same or at least two different companies, production planners and management for the control and optimization of individual processes or entire process chains. The aim is for the data from the life cycle of a product in the value chain to be able to be visualized and evaluated in a context-sensitive manner at any time.The amount of information that can be viewed and / or accessed depends on the authorization of the individual participant in the process chain and is controlled by the data acquisition device according to an adjustable authorization profile, which determines the corresponding authentication.

[0203] According to the invention, for example, when new raw materials, such as plastic granules, are delivered, it is provided to read in associated information such as the type of raw material, the date and place of manufacture, the reactor, the filters used in production, the condition of the granulator, the batch / lot number, the quality of the granules themselves (specks), the properties of the starting materials (molecular weight distribution, MFI, viscosity), a latest processing date recommended by the manufacturer, and so on.The information can be read in after the goods have been delivered in bags or octabins using a scanner integrated into the electronic data capture device, directly on the packaged raw material itself. Alternatively, the raw material manufacturer can provide the information in the memory. At the start of production, the stored information is only referenced to the raw material currently awaiting processing. This allows production to be planned based on the quality of the goods in the warehouse with regard to the desired semi-finished product quality. Similarly, information from goods intended for delivery to silos can be read into the memory.

[0204] The system for producing a wound web, i.e. a roll, is an extrusion system. The extrusion system can request information from the storage device for product introduction and / or product changeover. The trigger for requesting this information can be either a system operator, a work preparation employee, or automatically. The information contains details about the recipe (precise description of the type and quantity of raw materials used, etc.) as well as machine settings. Reading in this type of information via an interface, as opposed to manual entry by an operator, offers the advantage of reducing errors and thus waste in production due to incorrectly set parameters.

[0205] Just as the system reads information from a memory using a suitable recording device, it writes this information relevant for further processing of the semi-finished product(s) into the memory. This information can include, among other things: production date, production time (i.e., start and end times of the roll), production location, the machine used (type, manufacturer, machine number, maintenance status), recipe (precise description of the type and quantity of raw materials used), ambient conditions during production (humidity, temperature, and air pressure), machine settings, process parameters, and inline-recorded quality parameters of the manufactured semi-finished product (e.g., specks).

[0206] The product of the extrusion process is a so-called semi-finished product. For each roll cut, a semi-finished product can either be one roll or several semi-finished products can be produced, i.e. several rolls in the case of one or more so-called blank cuts. In any case, according to the invention, each semi-finished product, i.e. each roll, is to be provided with at least one identifier. An identifier is preferably applied to the web both at the beginning and at the end of the roll. The identification is particularly preferably applied redundantly on the first and last meters of the web. In a particularly preferred embodiment, an identifier is applied two or more times both longitudinally and transversely to the machine direction. This advantageously prevents a situation in which, in the event of damage to or loss of an identifier, it is no longer possible to reference a roll to an associated data element and thus indirectly to information.

[0207] The invention further provides that referencing to a quality parameter, in particular a property, determined offline in a laboratory is also possible. For this purpose, it is provided, for example, that one or more samples (i.e., a short section or excerpt from the web) are taken from a produced roll on the extrusion line, each of these samples is provided with an identifier, and the desired tests are carried out on each of these samples in a laboratory. The identifier applied in each case makes it possible to clearly assign a roll to a sample and to the test(s) carried out in the laboratory, since a data acquisition device is also provided on the laboratory equipment. This advantageously enables a clear assignment of manufactured goods to the quality determined offline.The clear storage and allocation of information relating to the production of a roll, particularly the achieved quality, is both an important component in quality documentation and a starting point for the further processing of semi-finished products. Based on this information, a further processing machine can be advantageously adjusted, since, like the extrusion line, it is equipped with a data acquisition device that enables the exchange of information using a data element.

[0208] Logistics plays a central role in the production and further processing of semi-finished products. Depending on their perspective, it is advantageous for the participants in these parts of the process chain to always know when and how many rolls are being produced, temporarily stored, transported away, or delivered. Therefore, it is envisaged that areas such as storage and transport / logistics also exchange information using a data element via a data acquisition device. For example, the invention provides for a production machine to report the completion of a roll via a suitable data acquisition device and, depending on the availability of an intermediate storage area on the extrusion machine, for the produced roll (packaged or unpackaged) to be transported to a warehouse. The transport request for the removal of semi-finished products from the extrusion system to an intermediate storage area and / or warehouse can be made either by a machine operator or automatically.In any case, the transport request, transport documentation, and storage of the rolls are carried out via an exchange of information using appropriate data capture devices. For example, a forklift driver can record and document the receipt of a roll and its storage in a specific storage location using an electronic data capture device with the built-in scanner.

[0209] According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for classifying a process quality in the multi-stage value chain of a plastic web product, for example a blown film web, a flat film web or a nonwoven web, for producing an end product, for example a packaging film, an agricultural film, a thermoformed film, a plastic sheet or a diaper, wherein the classification is carried out on the basis of information and / or properties about the stages and / or a raw material and / or a semi-finished product and / or the end product, in particular by means of a method according to a first aspect of the invention, in such a way that a good range and / or a bad range are defined for at least one piece of information or property, preferably for several, particularly preferably for all,wherein information and / or properties are determined along the stages and - preferably authenticated by means of a label or an identifier - transmitted and stored as a data element locally or, above all, remotely in a data set via a communication protocol, either as the pure information and / or property, or only as contained in the good range or bad range, or both together, or differently depending on the stage, wherein the data set is used to classify a process of the stage, a process chain along several stages, the end product, and / or a manufacturer, preferably with at least one class from the classes "In all stages in the good range," "In a certain number of classes in the good range," or "In certain particularly important classes in the good range."

[0210] In this way, certification can be made possible for the products, for process steps and / or for the manufacturers at the various levels.

[0211] The invention provides that information from the entire production chain, from the raw materials to the final product at the consumer, can be assigned as information in at least one data element to one or more value-added stages of the value chain. This enables, among other things, a synchronization of goods and information flows. It is expressly provided that information is context-related; i.e., it is available to the needs of the respective component of the process chain. This context reference can be established by linking information to an identifier in a data element.

[0212] Furthermore, it is specifically envisaged, among other things, that information relating to the manufacture of the semi-finished product can be provided in the form of a certificate or a guarantee certificate to participants downstream in the process chain and, if necessary, also to participants upstream. More specifically, it is envisaged that information specified by one participant in the process chain, and thus to be adhered to by another participant in the process chain, is stored as a signature on a data element. This data element can serve as the basis for a certificate, which can be made available to one or more participants in the process chain. It is crucial that information is added to the data element via a corresponding interface between two value creation stages, thus creating a life cycle log.

[0213] In particular, it is conceivable, among other things, that the raw material supplier who supplies the starting materials issues a guarantee certificate that guarantees the properties of a starting material.

[0214] Information about a starting material concerns, for example, its raw material class.

[0215] A distinction is made between polymers, fillers, adhesion promoters, additives (anti-melt fracture, anti-block), and others. It is expressly stipulated that this information concerns not only the type of raw material itself, but also the date and place of manufacture, the reactor, the batch / lot number, the quality of the starting materials (specks), the properties of the starting materials (molecular weight distribution, MFI, viscosity), a latest processing date recommended by the manufacturer, and similar dates.

[0216] Further information that is added to a data element as information can concern the production date, the production time, i.e. start time and end time of the roll, the place of production, the machine used (type, manufacturer, machine number, maintenance status), recipe (exact designation of type and quantity of raw materials used), ambient conditions during production (humidity, temperature and air pressure), machine setting variables, process parameters and quality parameters of the semi-finished product produced.

[0217] Within the meaning of the invention, the information stored in a data element may also include information regarding transport and storage (ambient conditions, storage time), since these can often influence further processing.

[0218] For example, it is known that film can only be stretched in a second step in an MDO within a certain time frame after its production, as otherwise excessive hole formation occurs as a result of progressive post-crystallization. On the other hand, certain steps in the process chain for processing laminated film composites require storage times before they are cut into smaller units. Thus, the identifier allows this information to be used in production planning and process planning.

[0219] The collected information is collected cumulatively across the process chain.

[0220] For example, according to this aspect of the invention, it is possible for a certificate about the properties achieved in each stage to be issued automatically within a stage and made accessible to the downstream stages of the value chain.

[0221] Furthermore, it is possible to issue a certificate that contains the characteristics from several stages of the value chain.

[0222] This advantageously enables downstream stages in the value chain to be guaranteed, by means of a certificate, the properties of a semi-finished product, a finished product, or a finished product. This also advantageously enables a downstream stage in the value chain to attribute any defects in the manufactured product that are attributable to deficient and incorrectly certified properties of an upstream value chain stage to the upstream stage and, in the case of a guarantee certificate, to obtain the corresponding compensation there.

[0223] According to a third aspect not according to the invention, the object is achieved by using data which have been provided by means of a method according to the first aspect of the invention for constructing a production machine or a further processing machine or a system which is used in the value chain of web material made of plastic, in particular a spunbond nonwoven, a meltblown nonwoven, a composite nonwoven, a blown film, a flat film, a plastic plate or a plastic sheet, for producing an end product.

[0224] The information available through a cross-value chain synchronization of the flow of goods and information can, for example, be used to gain new insights for the optimal design of a production machine or a further processing machine or a system that is used to produce an end product through an analysis of the information.

[0225] The knowledge gained can, for example, be used advantageously for the construction of such a machine.

[0226] The information can, for example, also come from other stages of the value chain, from other locations and / or other companies, which can increase the amount of data and also make it possible to use insights from other areas or the experiences of other companies or locations.

[0227] It is understood that the advantages of a method for providing, retrieving and using a data element in the value chain of a plastic web for producing an end product, by means of a communication protocol and a data carrier for the cross-stage exchange of a plurality of different data elements for producing the end product within the value chain, wherein the data element is used across stages in the value chain, namely by a first stage by means of the communication protocol on the data carrier and by a second stage by means of the communication protocol is retrieved from the data carrier and used on a machine of the second stage, as described above, directly apply to a use of data that has been provided by means of a method according to the first aspect of the invention,for constructing a production machine or a further processing machine or a plant which is used in the value chain of plastic web material, in particular a spunbond nonwoven, a meltblown nonwoven, a composite nonwoven, a blown film, a flat film, a plastic sheet or a plastic panel, for producing an end product.

[0228] It should be expressly pointed out that the subject matter of the third aspect can be advantageously combined with the subject matter of the above aspects of the invention, both individually or cumulatively in any combination.

[0229] According to a fourth aspect not according to the invention, the object is achieved by a method for improving the quality of a process, in particular a production process, a logistics process or a management process, within the value chain of plastic web material, in particular the value chain of a spunbond nonwoven, a meltblown nonwoven, a composite nonwoven, a blown film, a flat film, a plastic plate or a plastic sheet, for producing an end product, wherein a data element is retrieved and used by means of a communication protocol and a data carrier for the cross-stage exchange of a plurality of different data elements, wherein a quality of the process is described as a function of information in the data element, the data element is used to improve the quality of the process and by improving the quality of the process, the process is changed in such a way that a desired property,in particular a material property, a product property, a process property or a market property, is enhanced in its expression and / or an undesirable property, in particular a material property, a product property, a process property or a market property, is reduced in its expression.

[0230] The following terminology should be explained: "Quality" encompasses all objectively and subjectively perceivable properties of a process. In this context, a distinction is made between material properties, product properties, market properties, and process properties, especially process properties of the production process, the logistics process, or the management process. The extent of a property is recorded numerically in a "property value," which can be varied and optimized with respect to specified targets.

[0231] A quality can in particular be a product quality or a process quality.

[0232] Product quality can be defined both absolutely and relatively. Relative product quality results from the comparison of the product property required of a nonwoven or film (target) and the achieved product property (actual) in terms of a deviation of the mean values ​​(target / actual) and the deviation of the measured values ​​(actual). For example, product quality may be required to ensure that a film has a thickness of 20 µm + / - 0.5 µm, which is achieved with the achieved mean value of 19.8 µm. At the same time, it may be required that all measurements (according to the required measuring method) have a deviation of + / - 5%, i.e., all measuring points must be greater than 19.8 µm -5% or less than 19.8 µm + 5%.

[0233] Absolute product quality can be defined, for example, by the desired achievement of certain specific strength values ​​for a nonwoven. Specific strength values ​​refer to the relationship between a measured strength value (usually expressed as N / 5 cm for nonwovens) and the basis weight (g / m2). A nonwoven is therefore of higher quality if higher specific strengths are possible.

[0234] "Process quality" can be, for example, OEE (over equipment efficiency), first yield, a quality of a machine, especially a maintenance status. Process quality can also be understood as whether, for example, preventive maintenance is being performed.

[0235] It has been shown that the information from the stages of the value chain enables a multitude of new insights integrated across the value chain of web goods.

[0236] Specifically, it is proposed here, among other things, that the information from at least one data element be used to optimize a process that is carried out at a point in the value creation process of Bahnwahre.

[0237] It is also proposed here that the quality of the process being optimized is described as a function of at least one piece of information in a data element.

[0238] The objective of optimizing a process is, among other things, to enhance the expression of a desired property and / or to reduce the expression of an undesired property.

[0239] It is currently only possible to draw limited conclusions about changes in the final properties of the end product made from web material as a result of the intended networking of information exchange.

[0240] However, it has been shown that the potential for process optimization depending on at least one piece of information, especially from a different stage of the value chain for web goods, is extensive.

[0241] Thus, it is particularly proposed that when optimising a process that is carried out at one point in the value chain of Bahnwahre, at least one piece of information from a stage of the value chain that differs from the process to be optimised should also be used to describe the quality of the process.

[0242] This can advantageously be achieved by optimizing the quality of a process and, in particular, a property of a semi-finished product, a product, or a final product. This can result in a semi-finished product, a product, or a final product having better properties, reducing the costs of producing web material or products made from web material, and reducing the burden on the environment.

[0243] Advantages of using the data provided by a method according to the first aspect of the invention to design a production machine or a further processing machine or system include an increased level of information exchange, which enables process optimization of the value chain for plastic web goods in the areas of raw materials, semi-finished product production, further processing of the semi-finished products, logistics, and value chain management. For example, serially run machines can be adapted to the individual product properties. In particular, variations in the process parameters at one stage of the value chain can be taken into account in the other stages of the value chain.

[0244] In addition, optimized production planning and control by all actors can lead to further processing of B-goods into another, less sophisticated end product, which can reduce the amount of waste.

[0245] Process optimization across a single link in the value chain also allows energy consumption to be reduced right up to the final product.

[0246] Overall, the invention can make a significant contribution to significantly improving efficiency within the value chain for semi-finished web goods.

[0247] The quality of a production process is preferably improved.

[0248] Specifically, it is proposed, among other things, to continuously improve business processes, production processes, and development processes, as well as the use of the resources required for these processes. A process-oriented approach to the entire workflow, right up to the final product, should serve as a basis for this.

[0249] The advantage of this is that the costs of a production process and / or the throughput times of a production process for web goods can be reduced.

[0250] Furthermore, it can advantageously be achieved that the product properties resulting from a production process can be improved, in particular positive product properties can be improved and negative product properties can be reduced.

[0251] Optionally, the quality of further product processing is improved.

[0252] The advantage of this is that a semi-finished product or a product made from web material can be processed more quickly and cheaply.

[0253] In addition, it can advantageously be achieved that the positive properties of a further processed product made from web material can be improved and the negative properties of a product made from web material can be reduced.

[0254] Preferably, the quality of a process chain is improved.

[0255] The following terminology should be explained: A "process chain" is understood as the chronological sequence of several processes. A process chain is not merely a serial sequence of processes. It is also conceivable, among other things, that a semi-finished product or a product is broken down between two processing steps, and the subsequent work step is carried out in parallel on multiple production machines or further processing machines.

[0256] It is conceivable that a semi-finished product or a product is cut into pieces before transport and transported piece by piece to its destination using several transport vehicles or one transport vehicle.

[0257] It is also conceivable that a semi-finished product or a product is reassembled after further processing or transport. It is also conceivable that a semi-finished product or a product is only partially reassembled.

[0258] Among other things, it is proposed here to optimize the flow of a process chain.

[0259] It is also conceivable, among other things, that the order of two processes within a process chain is changed.

[0260] This can advantageously reduce costs and product lead times in a process chain. It can also be beneficial to improve the properties of a product.

[0261] Preferably, the quality of a process setting is improved.

[0262] The following terminology should be explained: A "process setting" is the adjustment of a process. An example of a process setting is the adjustment of the web speed at which a web product is produced or further processed.

[0263] Among other things, it is proposed here that a variable process variable be varied in order to increase the quality of a process and / or a semi-finished product and / or a product and / or a final product.

[0264] Optionally, product quality can be improved by changing a machine setting.

[0265] The following terminology should be explained: A "machine setting" refers to the adjustment of all parameters of a machine. Examples of parameters for a production machine for plastic web products include a set cylinder wall temperature, a set extrusion speed, and a set extruder speed.

[0266] Advantageously, this can be achieved by varying a setting variable of a machine, in particular by varying a setting variable of a production machine or a further processing machine, to improve the quality of a semi-finished product or a product or an end product.

[0267] Furthermore, production costs can be advantageously reduced by varying a setting variable of a machine.

[0268] Preferably, product quality is improved by changing a process setting.

[0269] The advantage of this is that the quality of a product can be improved by varying a process setting, so that the properties of a product can be optimized.

[0270] Preferably, the quality is improved by selecting a starting material.

[0271] This can advantageously reduce production costs through optimized selection of raw materials. Furthermore, it can advantageously improve the properties of a semi-finished product, a product, or a finished product.

[0272] Optionally, the quality of the production process is improved by reducing energy consumption.

[0273] It is specifically proposed here to analyse the energy consumption within the value chain for web goods using information from the value chain and to reduce energy consumption, for example by increasing throughput speeds, reducing transport routes or optimising other process parameters so that energy consumption can be reduced.

[0274] The advantage of this is that energy consumption in production can be reduced.

[0275] Preferably, the quality of the management process is improved by analyzing one or more data elements to generate expert knowledge.

[0276] Among other things, it is proposed to analyse the information from the value chain of web goods and to use the knowledge gained to improve the quality of the management process.

[0277] The advantage of this is that the quality of management processes can be improved.

[0278] The priority is to improve the quality of production planning.

[0279] The following terminology should be explained: "Production planning" refers, in particular, to the operational, temporal, quantitative, and spatial planning, control, administration, and monitoring of all processes necessary for the production of goods and products. The framework conditions for production planning are often planned during work preparation. The focus of production planning is the optimization of the entire production system, which is intended to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the entire production process.

[0280] Among other things, it is specifically proposed that the throughput times in the individual processing steps and in the logistics processes be optimized so that any dead times that occur can be reduced.

[0281] Furthermore, it is suggested that the production planner selects the machine with the appropriate operating window so that the throughput times optimally match the selected machine.

[0282] This can advantageously be achieved by reducing the manufacturing costs of a semi-finished product, a product or a finished product.

[0283] In addition, this can advantageously reduce the amount of material that needs to be stored at a machine location.

[0284] Optionally, the quality of production control is improved.

[0285] The following terminology should be explained: "Production control" is understood as the direct control of all processes within a production line. Strictly speaking, "production control" is therefore a subset of "production planning." However, while production planning is understood here as a rather static process that should be completed before production begins, "production control" is distinguished by its close temporal relationship to production. Production planning develops a plan for the processes to be carried out, and production control modifies this plan dynamically if necessary, allowing it to react to unforeseen events.

[0286] It is proposed here that, for example, in cases where disruptions to the actually planned process flow occur at one stage of the value chain, production control intervenes on the basis of information about the processes within the value chain by dynamically adapting the processes of the value chain and thus improves the quality of production control depending on the situation, so that the disruption situation can be remedied as quickly as possible and with the least possible monetary damage.

[0287] The advantage of this is that in special situations, production processes can be returned to the planned rhythm as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

[0288] Preferably, quality is improved by controlling research and development activities.

[0289] The following terminology should be explained: "Management of research and development activities" is understood as a multi-step process of planning, managing, and controlling research and development activities. The individual steps are closely interlinked and must be continuously adapted to changing circumstances. In particular, one step identifies knowledge gaps and thus research and development needs. In another step, potential research and development measures are identified, evaluated, and selected. In a further step, the research and development activities are carried out and monitored. Furthermore, one step involves integrating the knowledge gained into all relevant processes so that the innovations achieved can be utilized.

[0290] The advantage of this is that the costs of research and development activities can be reduced and the proportion of innovations that can be exploited in the market economy can be increased.

[0291] It can also ensure that necessary technological innovations can be implemented as quickly and as cheaply as possible.

[0292] Preferably, quality is improved by optimizing a distribution channel.

[0293] The following terminology is used to explain this: "Optimization" in optimization refers to the search for the best achievable result, taking all given boundary conditions into account. In particular, the optimization should achieve the enhancement of a desired property, in particular a material property, a product property, a process property, a logistics property, or a market property, and / or the reduction of an undesirable property, in particular a material property, a product property, a process property, a logistics property, or a market property.

[0294] A "distribution route" is the route of a semi-finished product and / or a finished product to its destination. This distribution route can be a direct route between the starting point and the destination. However, a non-linear route between the starting point and the destination can also be a distribution route.

[0295] In particular, a distribution route can contain multiple intermediate stops. For example, it is conceivable that a semi-finished product and / or a product and / or a finished product is transported to an intermediate stop, remains there for a certain period of time, is possibly at least partially reloaded onto another transport vehicle, and is transported further from there. It is also conceivable, among other things, that a semi-finished product and / or a product and / or a finished product is at least partially temporarily stored at an intermediate stop.

[0296] Distribution channels can be optimized within the value chain of web goods.

[0297] On the one hand, distribution channels can be optimized so that individual distances are as short as possible.

[0298] As a variant, it is proposed that the loading capacity of the transport vehicles be taken into account when optimising the route planning of transport vehicles and that this capacity be used to the best possible extent.

[0299] As a further variant, it is suggested that the availability of transport vehicles and compatible drivers should also be taken into account when planning routes.

[0300] Another variant that is specifically proposed is that the time required by the transport vehicle is taken into account when optimising a distribution route.

[0301] Another proposed variant is to optimize the distribution channel based on logistics costs.

[0302] It is understood that the proposed variants can be considered cumulatively with regard to the criteria for their optimization, both individually and in any combination.

[0303] The advantage of this is that transport times and overall transport costs can be reduced.

[0304] Optionally, quality can be improved by selecting a storage location.

[0305] The following terminology should be explained: A "storage location" is understood to be the location of a warehouse.

[0306] Among other things, it is proposed that the geographical positions of the storage locations within a distribution network of a value chain of web goods be determined and / or relocated in such a way that logistics costs can be minimized.

[0307] It is proposed to take into account that goods can be reloaded at the individual storage locations, that goods can be stored at the individual storage locations, that goods can be reloaded onto other vehicles at the individual storage locations and that the configuration of the vehicles with goods can be changed and adapted to other boundary conditions.

[0308] The advantage of this is that logistics costs can be reduced and the time required for logistics can be reduced.

[0309] Preferably, quality is improved by optimizing warehousing.

[0310] The following terminology should be explained: "Warehousing" means the storage of raw materials and / or semi-finished products and / or products and / or finished products.

[0311] It is suggested that the quantity of goods to be stored be optimized. It should be taken into account that, on the one hand, storage incurs costs, but, on the other hand, setup times can also arise when converting a production machine or a finishing machine.

[0312] Among other things, it is proposed here to determine the quantity of goods to be stored based on the optimal total costs for storage, logistics and production of the goods.

[0313] The advantage of this is that the total costs for the production, logistics and storage of a raw material, a semi-finished product, a product or a finished product can be reduced.

[0314] Preferably, quality is improved by optimizing transport costs.

[0315] The following terminology should be explained: "Transport costs" are understood to mean the costs of transporting a semi-finished product and / or a product and / or a finished product.

[0316] Here it is proposed to minimize transport costs by optimizing processes within the value chain of rail goods.

[0317] The advantage of this is that transport costs can be reduced.

[0318] Optionally, quality is improved by optimizing a logistics process.

[0319] Specifically, it is proposed, among other things, to use information from the value chain of a web product to optimize a logistics process.

[0320] The advantage of this is that logistics costs within the value chain of rail goods can be reduced.

[0321] Preferably, quality is improved by optimizing management costs.

[0322] The following terminology should be explained: "Management costs" are understood to be the costs of the management process.

[0323] For example, the costs of production planning are allocated to management costs.

[0324] Among other things, it is proposed here to use information from the value chain of a web product to optimize a management process.

[0325] The advantage of this is that management costs within the value chain of web goods can be reduced.

[0326] For example, it can be envisaged that data exchange is used across all stages of the value chain to minimize the specific energy requirement for manufacturing a final product. For this purpose, the data determined in the upstream, first stage for manufacturing the semi-finished product is stored in a data element and made available for retrieval in the downstream, second, or each subsequent process step. For example, in the downstream process step of printing a semi-finished product, the exchange of production and manufacturing data can eliminate the need for repeated, energy-intensive pretreatment or surface activation by plasma or corona treatment, or minimize the need for such pretreatment if the downstream process step is provided with information about the specific degree of activation the semi-finished product underwent during its production in the first manufacturing step.

[0327] Furthermore, it is conceivable that by providing the manufacturing data, repeated heating of a manufactured semi-finished product, preferably a film or a nonwoven, before lamination of the semi-finished product to a finished product, for example a laminate, can be dispensed with or the pre-heating or heating can be carried out with reduced power.

[0328] Furthermore, it is conceivable to control the total amount of energy consumed at a site or sub-site in such a way as to avoid peaks in energy consumption. This can be achieved by merging and evaluating information from multiple process chains regarding energy requirements and coordinating production processes, or more specifically, by adjusting production parameters. Energy requirements can be optimized, for example, by reducing the output of individual processes while taking into account the required delivery dates.

[0329] This can advantageously reduce the energy requirements for the production of semi-finished products and / or finished products across the value chain. This can be achieved by leveraging synergy effects between the individual stages of the value chain.

[0330] It is also specifically proposed here, among other things, that the exchange of data across the value chain, in particular the synchronization of goods and information flows, be used to manage defects in a web product.

[0331] For example, it can be provided that the data transmission between upstream production steps for the manufacture of the semi-finished product and downstream production steps for further processing, finishing, or refining the semi-finished product is used to improve the quality of the final product. Surface defects such as specks, streaks, gels, black spots, fish eyes, surface cracks, melt fractures, flow lines, hard pieces, and insects are detected by an inspection system, preferably an inline surface inspection system, for example using camera technology, infrared, ultrasound, or X-rays, and assigned as a data element to the manufactured semi-finished product.By retrieving the data element during further processing, finishing or finishing of the semi-finished product, such as spreader frames, coating systems or slitter-winders, the defective spot or defective area of ​​the web material is then removed manually, semi-automatically or fully automatically from the web material.

[0332] With holistic integration, order data from a production data acquisition system can also be used to determine the production quantity of the semi-finished product based on the proportion of scrap. In other words, the production quantity of the semi-finished product can be increased in line with the scrap rate.

[0333] This can advantageously optimize order control by adjusting the target quantity of defect-free semi-finished products based on the knowledge of defects in the semi-finished product so that the specified quantity of defect-free semi-finished products is achieved as precisely as possible. This can reduce customer dissatisfaction and the costs of producing the semi-finished product.

[0334] This can advantageously reduce scrap within the value chain. Furthermore, the handling of defects in semi-finished products can be simplified. In particular, this can advantageously increase work efficiency and thus indirectly also cost efficiency within the value chain, as unavoidable defects in the semi-finished product can be addressed automatically, rather than requiring individual human intervention as was previously the case.

[0335] According to a fifth aspect not according to the invention, the object is achieved by a method for producing a web product made of plastic, in particular a spunbond nonwoven, a meltblown nonwoven, a composite nonwoven, a blown film, a flat film, a plastic plate or a plastic sheet, wherein an extruder is operated for plasticizing a plastic, wherein a method according to the first aspect of the invention is carried out during production.

[0336] The following terminology should be explained: An "extruder" is understood to be a "screw plasticizing machine." In particular, an extruder refers to all known types of plasticizing machines that use a screw for conveying, melting, and homogenizing. Thus, both single-screw plasticizing machines and twin-screw plasticizing machines, as well as multi-screw plasticizing machines in general, fall into the category of screw plasticizing machines and are therefore considered an extruder.

[0337] It is understood that the advantages of a method for providing, retrieving and using a data element in the value chain of a plastic web material for producing an end product, by means of a communication protocol and a data carrier for the cross-stage exchange of a plurality of different data elements for producing the end product within the value chain, and / or the advantages of using data for constructing a production machine or a further processing machine and / or the advantages of a method for improving the quality of a process, in particular a production process, a logistics process or a management process, within the value chain of plastic web material for producing an end product,wherein the data element is retrievable and usable by means of the communication protocol and the data carrier for the cross-stage exchange of a plurality of different data elements, as described above directly extending to a method for producing a web product made of plastic, in particular a spunbond nonwoven, a meltblown nonwoven, a composite nonwoven, a blown film, a flat film, a plastic plate or a plastic sheet, wherein an extruder is operated for plasticizing a plastic, wherein a method according to the first aspect of the invention is carried out during production.

[0338] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by an electronic data acquisition device of a device for operating the described method, wherein the data acquisition device has programming for carrying out the method described, wherein the data acquisition device is configured to write a data element for providing the data element and / or to read a data element for retrieving the data element, in each case by means of the communication protocol.

[0339] Among other things, an electronic data acquisition device is proposed here which can read an identification code optoelectronically or an RFID chip electromagnetically.

[0340] In particular, the electronic data capture device should be able to read a barcode, a QR code and a matrix code optoelectronically.

[0341] Among other things, it is proposed here that when an identification code or an RFID chip is read out, a link is established to a data carrier or, via a network, to a location-independent data storage device, so that information in a data element is made accessible via the link, whereby, after a link has been established, information in the data carrier and / or the location-independent data storage device can be provided, read out or made usable.

[0342] Furthermore, it is proposed here that the identification code or the RFID chip can be read using a suitable electronic data capture device, whereby the link between the role and the digital role protocol can be clearly established, for example, so that a data element can be provided, retrieved or used if the electronic data capture device is authorized.

[0343] According to the proposal made here, a data element associated with the digital role record is located on a location-independent storage.

[0344] In concrete terms, however, it is conceivable that the data element belonging to the digital roll protocol is present on a data storage device that is inserted into the electronic data capture device or with which the electronic data capture device is networked for data exchange.

[0345] This advantageously enables the electronic data capture device to identify a roll or an identifier, in particular a barcode, a QR code or a matrix code, and to read it optoelectronically in a simple manner, whereby a link to a data element is established when the code or identifier is read, provided that a corresponding authorization to use exists.

[0346] It can also be advantageously achieved that a data acquisition device can electromagnetically read an RFID chip which is used to identify a good, a product, a production machine, a further processing machine or a transport vehicle and wherein, when the RFID chip is read, a link is established with a data element, provided that there is a corresponding authorization to use.

[0347] It is further proposed that the electronic data acquisition device is configured to display, analyze and edit accessible information from a data element, in particular in the data element.

[0348] It is currently only possible to draw limited conclusions about changes in the final properties of the end product made from web material as a result of the intended networking of information exchange.

[0349] Advantages of the present invention include an increased level of information exchange, which enables process optimization of the value chain for plastic web products in the areas of raw materials, semi-finished product production, further processing of semi-finished products, logistics, and value chain management. For example, serially processed machines can be adapted to the individual product properties. In particular, variations in the process parameters at one stage of the value chain can be taken into account in subsequent stages.

[0350] In addition, optimized production planning and control by all actors can lead to further processing of B-goods into another, less sophisticated end product, which can reduce the amount of waste.

[0351] Process optimization across a single link in the value chain also allows energy consumption to be reduced right up to the final product.

[0352] Overall, the invention can make a significant contribution to significantly improving efficiency within the value chain for semi-finished web goods.

[0353] Preferably, the electronic data acquisition device is mobile and has a battery, a power connection or a voltage generator.

[0354] This advantageously allows the electronic data capture device to be used independently of a stationary power supply. In particular, the electronic data capture device is so lightweight and ergonomically designed that it can be comfortably carried by a person and is readily perceived as a companion.

[0355] The mobility of the electronic data capture device advantageously enables easy access even to identification codes or identifiers or RFID chips that are not in the direct field of vision.

[0356] Mobility also proves to be advantageous when displaying and analyzing information from a data element, as on the one hand you can work with the electronic data capture device with comparable ease to a tablet computer and on the other hand you also have the option of sharing the display and / or analysis of information with other people, comparable to the ease of a tablet computer.

[0357] Furthermore, it is proposed here that the electronic data capture system has a context-based user interface and context-based user guidance.

[0358] Optionally, the electronic data acquisition device is installed stationary on a production machine and / or a further processing machine and / or a transport vehicle.

[0359] Among other things, it is proposed that an electronic data acquisition device be attached directly to a production machine and / or a further processing machine and / or a transport vehicle.

[0360] It is also conceivable for an otherwise mobile electronic data capture device to be permanently installed on a production machine and / or a processing machine and / or a transport vehicle with a safety lanyard or cable. This can ensure, for example, that an electronic data capture device is always available at the location where information is normally generated or needed. This guarantees, among other things, rapid handling of the synchronized exchange of goods and information, since one is always available when needed, especially during the introduction phase of the electronic data capture device.

[0361] This can advantageously ensure that an electronic data capture device is always available where information is to be created and provided and where information is to be retrieved and analyzed.

[0362] Preferably, the electronic data acquisition device is installed stationary on the semi-finished product, the product and / or the finished product.

[0363] In particular, a miniature version of an electronic data acquisition device is proposed which does not have its own screen, but requires a separate monitor for the display of information or which sends the information to an external tablet computer, a laptop, a stationary personal computer or a smartphone for the purpose of analysis and display as well as for the purpose of user guidance.

[0364] It is further proposed that the miniature version of an electronic data capture device has a data carrier which has at least one data element, so that information is always transported with the miniature version of an electronic data capture device and thus in particular with the goods.

[0365] This advantageously allows the miniature version of an electronic data acquisition device to be so small and compact that it can be easily attached to a semi-finished product, a product, or a finished product. The miniature version of an electronic data acquisition device advantageously has so much internal data storage that it can be transported with the semi-finished product, the product, or the finished product, figuratively speaking, like a digital package insert, and can thus record all information that may arise within the value chain for web goods.

[0366] The miniature design of an electronic data acquisition device can also ensure that the relevant and interesting information about the web goods across the value chain can always remain with the semi-finished product, the product or the end product and is always available exactly where it is needed and sought.

[0367] Optionally, an electronic data acquisition device can have a trigger for sending and / or completing a data set, thus a corresponding trigger can be provided.

[0368] A "trigger" is understood to be a triggering event in an individual case.

[0369] The "data set" comprises a number of different data elements. The data set can, in particular, be individually related to a given quantity of material, semi-finished product, or product.

[0370] The dataset can be used to capture the various influences on a product throughout its manufacturing history. Ideally, the dataset – as already described – captures all relevant data about the product and / or its manufacturing process.

[0371] As soon as the trigger is fired, a data element is added to the data set. This can be done locally by adding one or more data elements to the existing or remaining data elements, and the thus supplemented data set is forwarded; or the new data element(s) are transmitted to a remote data processing unit with data storage, where the data set is supplemented and retained for further availability.

[0372] Regardless of whether the addition is done centrally or decentrally, a plausibility check can be performed before a data element is added to the data set.

[0373] Depending on its design, the trigger can trigger a fully automatic or semi-automatic action. A fully automatic action means that the trigger triggering results in a

[0374] This results in the data set being automatically supplemented. This action can then preferably no longer be stopped by the user. For example, consider a data set that is automatically supplemented with the humidity or ambient temperature when a film web undergoes further processing.

[0375] In a semi-automatic action, the data capture device would suggest to an operator that a data element be added to the data set. The addition would be made either upon confirmation or upon failure to prevent the operator from doing so.

[0376] The trigger can be mechanical. For example, it's conceivable that a transport vehicle, such as a pallet truck, detects that it has been loaded or unloaded via a button or weight sensor. Or it can detect that a roller is rotating, a belt is running, granulate is flowing from a silo, etc. This can trigger the trigger.

[0377] If the trigger has an electronic release, in particular by means of an optical sensor and / or a radio sensor, then it can be triggered in response to a variety of events.

[0378] In particular, it is conceivable that an electronic coupling element is provided for data exchange with a machine. This could be, for example, a proximity sensor such as an RFID chip or a magnet, or a radio transmission such as a Bluetooth data connection.

[0379] Above all - and expressly not exclusively - it is intended to trigger the following events: operator change, raw material change, production process exceeding set limits, means of transport loading, pressure switch, weight sensor, order change, machine start-up, start of goods production, manual triggering e.g. for random samples, acceleration sensor, changing the production parameters within a production, deviation from a correlation outside a specified tolerance window, fluctuation of environmental parameters, or failure of machine components.

[0380] It should be expressly pointed out that the subject matter of the sixth aspect can be advantageously combined with the subject matter of the above inventive aspects of the invention, both individually or cumulatively in any combination.

[0381] According to a seventh aspect not according to the invention, the object is achieved by a plant for producing a web product made of plastic, in particular a spunbond nonwoven, a meltblown nonwoven, a composite nonwoven, a blown film, a flat film, a plastic plate or a plastic sheet, wherein an extruder is operated for plasticizing a plastic, wherein a method according to the first aspect of the invention is carried out during production and / or the plant has an electronic data acquisition device according to the fifth aspect of the invention.

[0382] In this context, it should be expressly emphasized that the "aspects of the invention" are to be combined with one another in such a way that any embodiment of one aspect of the invention can be realized jointly with any embodiment of one or more aspects of the invention, unless two features contradict each other in the individual case. Thus, the cumulation of the features of two (or any multiple) aspects of the invention are to be understood as expressly disclosed.

[0383] In the context of "optimization," "optimize," "improve," "minimize," "maximize," or similar terms, it is specifically pointed out that whenever a process or property, in particular a material property, a product property, a process property, a production process property, a logistics process property, and / or a management process property, is optimized, improved, minimized, maximized, or similar, this can be done in a model-based manner. Conceivable in particular is the use of heuristic models, statistical models, directly or indirectly optimizing models, evolutionary strategies, evolutionary algorithms, differential evolution models, neural networks, or similar models. Furthermore, it is specifically conceivable, among other things, that self-learning models are used.

[0384] The evaluation of a data element can be model-based. In particular, a heuristic model, a correlation-based model, an optimization model, or another data analysis model is used. Preferably, a learning model is used. Furthermore, it is conceivable, among other things, that a model accesses existing information or is model-predictive.

[0385] In particular, a model is predictive if it is a discrete-time dynamic model that calculates the future behavior of the process depending on the input signals.

[0386] When evaluating or analyzing a data element, it is conceivable, among other things, that a machine learning method is used. "Machine learning" refers to the generation of knowledge from experience. An artificial system learns from examples and can generalize them after the learning phase is complete. This means, in concrete terms, that the examples are not simply memorized; rather, the artificial system recognizes patterns and regularities in the learning data. This allows the system to evaluate unknown data (learning transfer) or fail to learn unknown data (overfitting).

[0387] The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a value chain of web goods, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a system for synchronising goods and information flows across locations and value chains, Fig. 3a , 3b schematically the transfer of information using a communication protocol, where the Figuren 3a , 3b form an embodiment, which is shown here divided into two parts 3a, 3b only for reasons of better drawing, Fig. 4 , 5 schematically a separation or a union, as well as Fig. 6 schematic of a web product. Fig. 7 Schema for processing data elements

[0388] The value chain 0 for web goods (not shown) in Figur 1 essentially consists of the value creation stages of a raw material 1, a production machine 2, a semi-finished product made of web material 3, a further processing machine 4, a final product 5, trade 6 and an end consumer 7.

[0389] The production machine 2 produces a semi-finished product made of web material 3 from a starting material 1. The semi-finished product made of web material 3 is then transported to a further processing machine 4, which produces a final product 5 from the semi-finished product made of web material 3. Finally, the final product 5 is transported to the retailer 6 and purchased there by the end consumer 7.

[0390] All value chain stages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 can be linked to an electronic data capture device 8 for information exchange. The electronic data capture device 8 can be linked to a location-independent storage device 9, which is configured to store information independently of location.

[0391] Furthermore, all value creation stages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of the value chain 0 can be connected to a cross-value management 10. The exchange of information between the value creation stages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of the value chain 0 can take place directly with the cross-value management 10 or indirectly via the electronic data capture device 8, whereby the electronic data capture device 8 also enables the location-independent storage 9 to be connected to the cross-value management 10 for information exchange.

[0392] Furthermore, each value creation stage 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of the value chain 0 and / or the location-independent storage 9 can be connected indirectly via the electronic data acquisition device 8 with the research & development 11 and / or the central data analysis 12 for the exchange of information.

[0393] In particular, the electronic data acquisition device 8 is configured to provide, retrieve and use a data element (not shown) by means of a communication protocol (not shown).

[0394] In particular, a data element (not shown) can have material properties (not shown), product properties (not shown), process properties (not shown) and market properties (not shown), whereby the information (not shown) of a data element (not shown) can be used for the cross-value chain synchronization (not shown) of a flow of goods (not shown) and information (not shown).

[0395] Furthermore, the information (not shown) of a data element (not shown) is used for the value chain-wide optimization (not shown) of a quality (not shown) of a process (not shown), in particular a production process (not shown), a logistics process (not shown) or a management process (not shown), within the value chain 0 of plastic web goods (not shown).

[0396] The system for synchronizing commodity and evolutionary flows 20 in Fig. 2 is essentially based on a data acquisition device 21 and a memory 22. The data acquisition device 21 and the speakers 22 are connected to each other by means of a data transmission connection 23, whether wired or wireless, so that they can exchange information (not shown here) in both directions.

[0397] The data acquisition device 21 is configured to acquire data from a wide variety of processes and / or to transmit data to the processes, for example - but not limited to - from or about a raw material 24, a production facility 25, an operator 26, a role or a role ID 27, a further processing machine 28, a laboratory 29, an entity or a process from transport or logistics 30, a warehouse 31 or a management process 32.

[0398] In the figure, the data acquisition device 21 is to be understood as a logical entity. In practice, for example, a single data acquisition device 21 may be capable of exchanging data with several of the processes 24 to 32; however, it is equally conceivable that a data acquisition device 21 may only communicate with a subset of these, for example, even with only a single process of the processes 24 to 32.

[0399] Using the example of raw material 24, it is conceivable that the raw material bears a special marking. For example, a batch of granulate can bear a unique identifier, or, for example, make a recipe recognizable. A data acquisition device 21, specialized or generally designed for this purpose, communicates with the data carrier on the raw material 24. The data acquisition device 21 recognizes the identifier (not shown) of the raw material 24. The data acquisition device 21 can generate a data element (not shown) based on the identifier (i.e., the ID) of the raw material 24. The data element can then be stored by the data acquisition device 21 in the memory 22.

[0400] Preferably, the memory 22 is arranged centrally, i.e. spatially remote from the decentralized processes 24 to 32, and thus also remote from the respective associated data acquisition devices 21.

[0401] In order for the data acquisition device 21 to be able to write to the memory 22 or otherwise access the memory 22, the data transmission connection 23 must preferably overcome an authentication hurdle 33. Here, the common authentication options for electronic registration from the state of the art can be used.

[0402] In order to make the information or properties or data elements transmitted from the data acquisition device 21 to the memory 22 more easily recognizable for the operator, or to make the data retrieved from the memory 22 more recognizable, a data visualization and evaluation unit 34 can be provided for the operator.

[0403] Typically, a silo 40, a spunbond plant 41 (here as an example of a plant in Figur 3 , divided into sub-figures 3a / 3b) and a web material 42 in the process chain are connected in a network, and this network communicates with a management system 46. Alternatively, the silo 40, the spunbond plant 41 and the web material 42 in the process chain are divided into network segments, which in turn are connected to the management system 46.

[0404] Depending on the configuration, the connection can be secured. This can be achieved using cryptographic methods. Therefore, the data is transmitted via data blocks and messages, meaning the data is available directly to the machine controller or is generated, used, or subscribed to by the controller as needed.

[0405] All data is stored chronologically in a memory 49 using a communication protocol. The process properties are transmitted, for example, as OPC-UA IEC 1900 62541 / DIN EN 62541 Part 8, MQTT (MQTT has been an ISO standard (ISO / IEC 20922) since 2016), or AMQP (ISO / IEC 19464), alternatively in a data frame defined by the software interface manufacturer or another message format selected by the applicant. A characteristic feature is that the time information is included in the protocol. Storage in the memory 49 is chronological, and furthermore, according to the type of data. The location of the data storage by the memory 49 and its use in the management system 46 can be spatially separated.

[0406] The distribution follows the purpose of use and the type of data.

[0407] The data is transferred to the subsequent steps of the process chain via communication protocols, which are either passed on chronologically, chronologically / position-related with the web material, the roll material, or the end product, or can be made available locally or globally using a unique / individual identifier from the memory 49 via the management system 46. The choice of identifier depends also, but not exclusively, on the type of process—continuous or batch / piece goods process.

[0408] A characteristic of these communication protocols is that they are adapted to the requirements of the receiving partner, so that only the data relevant to the recipient is used, but is available in its entirety for further evaluation 47 by a development department 48. Furthermore, the processing entity can make the relevant data of the desired process step available to the potential recipients. The recipient then makes the selection.

[0409] In the special case of transferring a nonwoven roll from a winder to a rewinder / conversion machine, in addition to the roll parameters such as running length and width, inspection data in particular is transferred in order to enable sorting according to rejects or B-goods and to enable further optimization in further processing.

[0410] In a further parallel step, the inspection data can be used in real time to optimize the production settings of the spunbonded nonwoven machine 41. For this purpose, the process data in the memory 49 are analyzed, and the results are returned to the control system of the spunbonded nonwoven machine 41. For this purpose, the communication protocols have low latency or have features that allow for latency consideration.

[0411] Finally, data on the final packaging and delivery is made available to the storage facility so that a complete record of production data, product characteristics and packaging data is available.

[0412] This can support the supply chain, for example, to plan means of transport; and / or order-relevant data is played back into an EPA system using a communication protocol; and / or a data set is made available to the processor, such as diaper production 43, on a mobile storage medium or globally via identifier (cloud or similar) ("digital roll protocol").

[0413] After a final product has been manufactured, this final product has its own identifier.

[0414] Typically, this identifier can be used to identify data records for analysis and logistics processes.

[0415] With regard to the invention aspect of the production plant, the following example should be considered: Production of a spunbond nonwoven from PP

[0416] First, the material is conveyed from silo 40, and the corresponding raw material data is transferred to the spunbond system 41.

[0417] Consolidation with a calender 50 and winding on a winder results in web material 42. The finished roll is then transferred to a rewinder, including the measured inspection data (which may include the criterion "defect-free product yes / no"), process data, and the characteristic data calculated from the process parameters. The winding cores are coded.

[0418] The next step is to rewind the web into the desired configuration, simultaneously mark the B-stock, and remove any rejects. The code of the used winding core is recorded in the rewinder. This code is then sufficient to give the rewinder access to all relevant data from the production machine. For this purpose, the rewinder is integrated into the production plant's network and is thus authenticated using the identifier derived from the winding core code to obtain the relevant data. The finished rolls are marked with labels. On these labels, a QR code or barcode, for example, serves as the identification of this roll.

[0419] This is followed by transfer of the finished web material (roll material) to a diaper machine. Using the identifier applied to the roll label, which is read by a suitable reader, the data relevant to the diaper machine is available via a software interface. The transferred data contains the physical properties (e.g., strength, calculated elongation) and roll parameters, diaper production 43 to diaper 45, packaged according to the customer's specifications (brand owner or white label), including a lot ID (batch ID). The lot ID of a diaper identifies it and, through further evaluation 47 in the memory 49, enables the representation of the entire value chain. This ensures particularly reliable and convenient use 57 of the ready-to-sell diaper 56.

[0420] If the end customer provides feedback to the diaper manufacturer 44 about poor quality, the manufacturer can achieve full traceability back to the silo using the data records.

[0421] The Fig. 4 and 5 show the joining process (for example using a calender) or the splitting process (for example using a slitter).

[0422] As in Fig. 6 As shown schematically, web material 70 can carry redundant identifiers 73...79, especially at a front web end 71 and / or at a rear web end 72. The web material can then be separated, for example by means of a slitter, so that the parts produced in this way still carry identical identifiers 73...79 and thus the process upstream in the value chain remains traceable.

[0423] Ideally, when splitting web material 70 with redundant identical identifiers 73...79, the process adds different part identifiers (not shown) to the generated parts so that from there on the parts can be further tracked in different fates.

[0424] Fig. 7 shows a diagram of a method for the infrastructure of data elements by means of a device according to the invention. A facility simulator 80 simulates a facility and loads the database of a host computer (MSSQL / SQlite) with data elements. These data elements are then transmitted via a cloud connection (Cloud Connector) 81 in the form of an appliance to a message broker 82. The cloud connection represents a connection between the facility and a cloud, and the transmitted data includes, among other things, transport, configuration, logs, data mapping, and the upload of monitoring dumps of the data elements. The message broker 82 subsequently distributes MQTT messages within the cloud.On the one hand, the data elements can then be forwarded to various clients 87A, 87B, tailored to customer specifications, which in turn store the data elements in various database management systems 88, 89. Time series databases 88 for possible visualization and SQL databases 89 can be considered as database management systems. Identity and rights management software 90 ensures that only authorized access to the released data elements can occur at the agreed time for an agreed purpose. An IoT ("Internet of Things") application 91 contains information on configuration management, logging, error logging, and the management of monitoring dumps.

[0425] The message broker 81, on the other hand, can store a variety of data elements in different big data databases. For example, as in Fig. 7 As illustrated, monitoring dumps are stored in a Big Data Blog Storage 83 and other data elements are stored in a Big Data Data Lake 84. Accordingly, error log data is stored in an Error Log Data database 85 and log data in a Log Data database 86. The infrastructure therefore enables the use of machine learning to analyze the data. In accordance with data protection guidelines, it is also important that the infrastructure can guarantee a certain degree of anonymity of the data for third parties. The procedure according to Fig. 7 can still be carried out on-premises ("on-premises" or "in your own premises, on-site or locally"). List of reference symbols used

[0426] Fig. 1 0 Value chain 1 Raw material 2 Production machine 3 Semi-finished product from web material 4 Further processing machine 5 End product 6 Trade 7 End user 8 Electronic data capture device 9 Location-independent storage 10 Cross-value chain management 11 Research & Development 12 Central data analysis Fig. 2 20 System 21 Data acquisition device 22 Memory 23 Data acquisition connection 24 Raw material 25 Production plant 26 Operator 27 Role 28 Further processing machine 29 Laboratory 30 Transport / Logistics 31 Warehouse 32 Management process 33 Authentication hurdle 34 Data visualization and evaluation unit Fig. 3 40 Silo 41 Spunbond plant 42 Web material 43 Diaper production 44 Diaper manufacturer 45 Diaper 46 Management system 47 Further evaluation 48 Development department 49 Storage 50 Calender 56 Ready-to-sell diaper 57 Use of the ready-to-sell diaper Fig. 4 60 Division process 61 Incoming roll 62 First continuing part 63 Second continuing part Fig. 5 65 Unification process 66 First incoming part 67 Second incoming part 68 Unified continuing role Fig. 6 70 Web material 71 Front web end 72 Rear web end 73...79 Identifier Fig. 7 80 Asset Simulator 81 Cloud Connection 82 Message Broker 83 Big Data Blob Storage 84 Big Data Data Lake 85 Error Log Data Database 86 Log Data Database 87A, 87B Customer A, Customer B 88 Time Series Database 89 SQL Database 90 Identity and Rights Management 91 IoT Application

Claims

1. A method for providing, retrieving and using a data element in a value creation chain (0) of a sheet material (42) made of plastic for producing a final product (5), by means of a communication protocol (23) and a data carrier (9) for exchanging a plurality of different data elements across stages for producing the final product (5) within the value creation chain (0), wherein the data element is used across stages in the value creation chain (0), namely provided from a first stage by means of the communication protocol to the data carrier (9) and retrieved by a second stage by means of the communication protocol from the data carrier (9) and used on a machine of the second stage, wherein the sheet material (42) made of plastic is a spun-bonded non-woven fabric or a melt-blown non-woven fabric or a composite non-woven fabric or a blown film or a flat film or a plastic board or a plastic panel, and wherein at least the first stage (1) for exchanging data elements with an electronic data detection device (8) is linked by means of a data transmission connection (23) to a data carrier (9), preferably a location-independent memory (9) for storing the data, wherein the data element is forwarded from at least the first stage (1) of the value creation chain (0) by means of the electronic data detection device (8) to the data carrier (9), and wherein the use of the data element is carried out on the part of the second stage for further processing that product, on the basis of the production or manufacture of which, at the first stage, the data element was generated and provided to the data memory (9), wherein the data element is linked and provided via the data detection device (8) to the product and at least one production machine and / or further processing machine (28) and / or transport vehicle and / or used as at least a second stage, characterised in that a digital roll protocol is used, which has the one or more data elements and is clearly linked to a roll (27) which is adapted for transporting the sheet material (42) as well as rolling up and unrolling sheet material (42), and wherein the digital roll protocol contains all the relevant information from the value creation chain (0) of the sheet material (42), which is linked to the sheet material (42) associated with the roll.

2. The method according to Claim 1, characterised in that the data element of the at least first value creation stage (1) of the value creation chain (0) and / or of the data carrier (9) is forwarded via the electronic data detection device (8) to research and development (11) and / or a central data analysis (12) for processing and analysis.

3. The method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that all value creation stages (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), for exchanging data elements with the electronic data detection device (8), are linked by means of a data transmission connection (23) to a data carrier (9), preferably a location-independent memory, for storing the data.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the data carrier (9) is a location-independent data memory which is available across locations and / or across parties, wherein the data carrier can be a data cloud which is available across locations and / or across parties, and wherein the data transmission connection (23) is wired or wireless between the data detection device (8) and the data carrier (9).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the data element has a substance property or substance properties, in particular a substance property or substance properties of a product, in particular of a starting material and / or of a semi-finished product and / or of a final product.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the data element has a product property or product properties, in particular a product property or product properties of a starting material and / or of a semi-finished product and / or of a final product.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the exchange of one or more data elements is carried out across locations, in particular the exchange of one data element is possible worldwide, and / or in that the exchange of one or more data elements is carried out across parties, in particular across companies.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the exchange of one or more data elements is carried out with the aid of a standardised software interface.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the stages (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) can read and / or write the data element.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second stage lies chronologically after the first stage.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the product, in particular the final product, is provided with an individual product identifier and has this subsequently, and / or in that a production machine for sheet material made of plastic is provided with an individual production machine identifier and has this subsequently, and / or in that a further processing machine for sheet material made of plastic is provided with an individual further processing machine identifier and has this subsequently, and / or in that a transport vehicle for transporting the product is provided with an individual transport vehicle identifier and has this subsequently.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said method is suitable for classifying a process quality in the value creation chain, which has multiple stages, of a sheet material made of plastic, for example a blown film web, a flat film web or a nonwoven web, for producing a final product, for example a packaging film, an agricultural film, a thermoforming film, a plastic board or a nappy, wherein the classifying is carried out on the basis of information about, and / or properties of, the stages and / or a raw material and / or a semi-finished product and / or the final product, wherein a good region and / or a bad region are defined for at least one item of information or property, preferably for multiple, particularly preferably for all items of information or properties, wherein information and / or properties are determined along the value creation stages and - preferably authenticated by means of a sign or an identifier - transmitted and stored as a data element locally or, especially, removed in a data record via a communication protocol, wherein the pure information and / or property, and / or the good region or bad region of the information and / or property of the respective value creation stage is / are stored, wherein the classifying of a process of the value creation stage (1), a process chain along multiple value creation stages, of the final product and / or of a manufacturer is carried out on the basis of the data record.

13. A device for operating the method according to any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 12, which provides, retrieves and uses a data element in a value creation chain of a sheet material made of plastic for producing a final product, having a means for exchanging, by means of a communication protocol (23) and a data carrier (9), a plurality of different data elements across stages for producing the final product within the value creation chain, wherein the device has a means which is configured for using the data element in the value creation chain, namely for providing the data element from a first stage by means of the communication protocol to the data carrier and for retrieving the data element by a second stage by means of the communication protocol from the data carrier and for using said data element on a machine of the second stage, wherein the sheet material (42) made of plastic is a spun-bonded non-woven fabric or a melt-blown non-woven fabric or a composite non-woven fabric or a blown film or a flat film or a plastic board or a plastic panel, and wherein the device has means which are configured, for exchanging data elements to link an electronic data detection device (8) by means of a data transmission connection (23) to the data carrier (9), preferably a location-independent memory (9), for storing the data, wherein the device has means which are configured to forward the data element from at least the first stage (1) of the value creation chain (0) by means of the electronic data detection device (8) to the data carrier (9), and wherein the device has means which are configured to have the use of the data element carried out on the part of the second stage for further processing that product, on the basis of the production or manufacture of which, at the first stage, the data element was generated and provided to the data memory, wherein the device has means for displaying, linking and providing the data element, via the data detection device (8), in association with the product and with at least one production machine and / or further processing machine and / or transport vehicle, and / or using the data in at least a second stage, characterised in that the device has means which are configured to use a digital roll protocol which has the one or more data elements and is clearly linked to a roll (27) which is adapted for transporting the sheet material (42) as well as rolling up and unrolling sheet material (42), and wherein the digital roll protocol contains all the relevant information from the value creation chain (0) of the sheet material (42), which is linked to the sheet material (42) associated with the roll.

14. The device according to Claim 13, characterised in that the device can be controlled remotely.

15. The device according to any one of Claims 13 and 14, characterised in that the device has an electronic data detection device which is provided for writing a data element, for providing the data element and / or for reading a data element, for retrieving the data element by means of a communication protocol for exchanging a plurality of different data elements across stages for producing the final product within the value creation chain, in order to provide, retrieve and use, across stages, the data element in the value creation chain of a sheet material made of plastic, in particular a spun-bonded non-woven fabric, a melt-blown non-woven fabric, a composite non-woven fabric, a blown film, a flat film, a plastic board or a plastic panel, for producing a final product.

16. The device according to Claim 15, characterised in that the electronic data detection device is mobile, wherein it has a battery, a power connection or a voltage generator.

17. The device according to Claim 15, characterised in that the electronic data detection device is installed stationarily on a production machine and / or a further processing machine and / or a transport vehicle.

18. The device according to Claim 15, characterised in that the electronic data detection device is installed stationarily on the semi-finished product, on the product and / or on the final product.

19. The device according to any one of Claims 15 to 18, characterised in that a trigger is provided for transmitting and / or completing a data record.

20. The device according to Claim 19, characterised in that the trigger has a mechanical release.

21. The device according to Claim 20, characterised in that the trigger has an electronic release, in particular by means of an optical sensor and / or a radio-wave sensor.

22. The device according to any one of Claims 19 to 21, characterised in that an electronic coupling member for exchanging data with a machine is provided.

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